Disability Services Scholarships

All of the Disability Services scholarships are posted in Academic Works, the UMass Amherst scholarship system. Students can log in with their NetID and fill out the general application. 

There are four (4) scholarships administered by Disability Services that were established by endowments from generous donors. All are intended for students with disabilities, and some stipulate a preference (though not a requirement) for other conditions to be met. Some, but not all, of the scholarships require that the recipient have approved accommodations through Disability Services. 

Disability Services also administers a scholarship specifically to cover the cost of neuropsychological testing for students seeking a diagnosis for ADHD, Autism, learning disabilities, or other neuropsychological disabilities. 

Disability Services has a package of three different scholarships that students can apply for under one application in Academic Works. 

Candidates should be registered with Disability Services at UMass Amherst. All candidates must have completed a minimum of 24 credits at UMass Amherst and be making "reasonable" academic progress in a degree program.  Awards will be based on a combination of financial need and academic achievement. Graduating seniors, previous winners, and graduate students are welcome to apply. Students with disabilities not currently receiving accommodations through Disability Services are encouraged to contact Disability Services for application procedures. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted as part of the application. One should be an academic / career reference and the other a personal reference.  References cannot be submitted by family members.  

Class of '43 "Making A Difference" Scholarship

Students registered with Disability Services at UMass Amherst are eligible for this scholarship.  

James M. Begin Endowment

Established to distribute available earnings of the Fund without restriction by the Director of Disability Services on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, with preference for students with or having had cancer, and with a further preference for students enrolled in the Bachelor's Degree with Individual Concentration program. This scholarship was established to provide an award in the form of a cash prize based on financial need and academic accomplishment.  Please note that monetary prizes are processed through the Financial Aid Office and posted to the student's University account.  Positive balances are issued as a check by the Bursar's Office. 

The Joseph V. Gavin "Keep the Faith" Scholarship

The Joseph V. Gavin "Keep the Faith" Scholarship was established in 1992 by family members and friends to honor the memory of Joseph V. Gavin, class of 1990.  Candidates should be enrolled at UMass Amherst facing extraordinary physical challenges. Preference will be given to students with cystic fibrosis. It is expected that candidates will provide medical documentation unless currently registered with Disability Services.  

This scholarship was established to support undergraduate students registered with the Office of Disability Services at UMass Amherst. Preference will be given to students with financial need as determined by UMass Amherst. It is the donor’s preference that a minimum of two awards be given annually.

No, that is not a typo --- this scholarship is named after Parking Services because it is funded by parking fines when vehicles are parked in accessible parking spaces without the appropriate tags. 

This scholarship is a needs-based scholarship for students who require assistance for the cost of psychoeducational or neuropsychological testing of learning disabilities. Recipients are either undergraduate or graduate UMass Amherst students in good academic standing with financial need as verified by the Financial Aid Office.  Applicants must also be a first-time applicant for this scholarship, and also must be able to provide documentation of their need and a quote of the cost for testing (e.g. a signed and dated statement, on letter head, by a qualified neuropsychologist, Ph.D., or Psy.D.).

Priority will be given to applicants with the greatest financial need.  Awards will vary in amount, depending on the availability of funds and the circumstances of each application (including the financial need of the applicant).  It should be noted that award decisions will not be immediate, and funds may not be immediately available.  Therefore, applicants are advised to time their requests and schedule their testing accordingly.